On Wednesday, NFL insider Adam Schefter appeared on the Pat McAfee Show. He was asked about the San Francisco 49ers quarterback situation. Specifically, he was asked about the status of the team's third-year quarterback, Trey Lance, and if fans can expect the team to try to trade the former No. 3 overall pick before the start of the 2023 season.
San Francisco traded away a haul of draft capital in 2021 to move up in the draft to select Lance. The young quarterback has started only four NFL games since then. He entered the 2022 season as the 49ers' starting quarterback but suffered a season-ending ankle injury during Week 2.
"There really was never a lot of interest in Trey Lance," Schefter said after being asked about other teams potentially pursuing the quarterback. "For what they gave up and what they get back, which is not very much at all, it doesn't make sense to trade him. There was no trade market, and Kyle Shanahan has said that they didn't have any trade talks with teams. He's not going anywhere right now. He's there.
"Now, I will say this: Sam Darnold signed with the 49ers on the first day of free agency. And if there's a player signing with the team on the first day, that tells you that the team really liked that guy. And they really did like Sam Darnold. He was looking at a couple of different options. He chose the 49ers.
"But let's also be very clear that Brock Purdy, if he's healthy, he's the guy on opening day. He's the starting quarterback. He's the number one. If he's not, if for some reason he can't go, we'll see how Darnold and Trey Lance do in camp this summer. My guess would be Darnold has a chance to really shine and excel. But there's a lot of preseason football left for those two guys to distinguish themselves."
"There was no trade market for Trey Lance and the 49ers didn't have any trade talks with teams..
Brock Purdy if he's healthy is the number one and my guess going into camp is that Sam Darnold has the edge to be number two"@AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/pIjNIx3RiF
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 21, 2023
Purdy, last year's last overall pick in the draft, took over as the starting quarterback after Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo suffered injuries. The then-rookie helped guide the 49ers all the way to the NFC Championship Game before suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow.
San Francisco doesn't expect Purdy to begin practicing until late August at the earliest. However, the team remains hopeful that he will be available for the start of the regular season.
"Brock Purdy is the one, if healthy," Schefter added. "And I think going into camp, Sam Darnold, I think, has the edge going into camp. But, by the way, Trey Lance could play great. He worked over the summer with [Chiefs QB Patrick] Mahomes, and I heard he's made tremendous improvement. I'm anxious to see how much he's improved and whether he can make that jump. Let's see it."